Potake Lake Dam dam
Potake Lake Dam
Potake Lake Dam, located in Sloatsburg, New York, serves as a vital resource for both recreation and water supply purposes. Built in 1800, this earth dam stands at a height of 22 feet and stretches 350 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 1149 acre-feet. The dam overlooks the TR-RAMAPO RIVER and has a spillway width of 142 feet, ensuring controlled water release during periods of high flow.
Managed by a public utility, Potake Lake Dam is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam has a high hazard potential rating but is currently not rated for its condition assessment. Despite the moderate risk level associated with the structure, emergency action plans are in place, and the dam meets regulatory guidelines to mitigate any potential risks.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the historical significance and functional importance of Potake Lake Dam. With its picturesque setting and critical role in water management, this dam plays a key role in providing essential services while also offering recreational opportunities for the local community and visitors alike.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Potake Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ramapo River At Ramapo Ny | 55 cfs | → |
| Ringwood Creek Near Wanaque Nj | 8 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River At Suffern Ny | 35 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River Near Mahwah Nj | 73 cfs | → |
| Mahwah River Near Suffern Ny | 7 cfs | → |
| Wanaque River At Awosting Nj | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Potake Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Ringwood-Ramapo Trail Ringwood
- Blue Lake Road Town Of Warwick
- Laurel Meadow Drive Town Of Warwick
- Greenwood Lake Turnpike Ringwood
- Lakeside Avenue Pompton Lakes
- North Corporate Drive 2, Riverdale
Campgrounds
- Beaver Pond - Harriman State Park
- Beaver Pond Campsite
- Croton Point Park
- Blue Mountain Reservation
- Rock Lodge Club
- Camp Lewis
Fishing spots
Track Potake Lake Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Potake Lake Dam
Where does the data for Potake Lake Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Potake Lake Dam.